Tech Reference

How to charge a Fitbit Alta, and what to do if your Alta isn't charging

Fitbit Alta
The Fitbit Alta doesn't take long to fully charge. Business Insider
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A Fitbit Alta with a drained battery won't do you much good, save for use as an inefficient paperweight. 

The good news? After about an hour or two of charging, your Fitbit Alta will have enough battery life to last you a full week of regular use.

So let's get that Fitbit Alta charged up and ready to track your steps, sleep, heart rate, calories burned, and all the rest of it. Here's how to charge a Fitbit Alta.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Fitbit Alta (For $59.95 at Best Buy)

How to charge a Fitbit Alta

1. Connect the USB plug of the charger into a computer or wall adapter

2. Squeeze together on the clamps on the back of the charger to open them wide.

3. Align the pins on the back of the Alta with those set into the charger.

Screen Shot 2019 08 13 at 12.50.29 PM
Open the charging clamp and fit it into place over the Fitbit's charging pins.  Fitbit

4. Release the clamps to leave the charger secured in place.

If the device gently vibrates, and you see a battery icon appear on the Fitbit Alta's screen, you have successfully connected the tracker to a power supply. 

fitbit alta charging
When the charging icon appears on the Alta's screen, it means you've connected the charger properly.  Fitbit

If you know you've connected the charger, but your Fitbit isn't charging, it might need to be cleaned. To clean it, take a clean, lint-free cloth and lightly dampen it with isopropyl alcohol. Wipe down the charging pins on both the charger and the Alta, and dry them afterwards.

Now go enjoy an hour or two not being tracked. 

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Steven John has been a freelance writer for more than a dozen years and has been a regular contributor to Business Insider since 2017. His work includes a focus on the tech world, covering companies including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others. He also reviews restaurants, shares how-to cooking articles, and writes general interest pieces.Steven also writes for publications including Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, Forbes, and more. In the past, he also wrote for New York Magazine, Mashed, U.S. News & World Report and other outlets. He runs his own outdoor lifestyle site, Dad Gear Review, and co-hosts the Fact Trekkers podcast with his son. He has had two novels published, Three A.M. and Outrider. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in communications focused on filmmaking.He is an avid outdoorsman and can be frequently found in a kayak or on a mountain trail, often with his family along for the adventure.Expertise:Tech industryTech hardwareOutdoorsCookingRestaurantsDIYPopular articles:Microsoft: A history of the software giant co-founded by Bill Gates, its products and services, jobs, layoffs, and moreYouTube is a major entertainment force. Here's the platform's history, plus how to create a channel and upload videos.Inside the life and career of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, billionaire, and philanthropistTim Cook net worth: How the Apple leader earns and spends his moneyBecoming an Amazon seller is a simple process. Here's what's involved, plus how you make money and get paid.